Hindu Administrative Institutions c9.s3.23

c9.s3.23

‘Is your income great, is your expenditure proportionately less, is it not wasted on the undeserving, is it spent on gods, ancestors, *śrotriyas*, guests, army and allies?’ Again in chapters xcv and xcvi (*tīrthayātra* section) of the *Āraṇyaka Parvan* there is an interesting episode which throws much useful light on the topic under discussion. The sage Agastya happened to marry and set up a family which meant funds to maintain his establishment. With that object he set out to get honorariums from the kings of the several states. He approached four kings: *Śrutarva* (श्रुतर्वा), *Bradhnaśva* (बध्रश्व), *Trasadasyu* (त्रसदस्युः) and *Ilvala* (इल्वः). Each of them had practically a minus balance in their accounts. They had spent more than what they had got. The accounts were then called for and scrutinized by the sage with an eye to the items of the expenditure. A careful auditing demonstrated that their incomes amounted to only just what they had to spend and nothing to spare even by way of charity. The sage then brought to their notice the necessity of keeping their treasury well-furnished. On his advice it is said that the states were placed thenceforward on an excellent financial basis. The account may or may not be historical. But the fact remains that the balancing of budgets with a reserve earmarked in the treasury was a factor understood and realized in ancient days in Hindu India. It is generally taken that the budget was to be a surplus budget, and not a deficit one.¹ This surplus wealth was to be utilized among worthy persons.